Self-educated golfer Jack Kidwell grew up in central Ohio. From 1937 until 1971, he owned and operated the Beacon Light Golf Course, where he started as a caddie. In 1943, he married Geraldine "Jerry" Kidwell, his wife of 57 years, and had four daughters, Sally, Shirley, Kathy, and Jody. Kidwell became a Class "A" golf course superintendent and earned life membership status as a Class "A"PGA professional. His peers selected Kidwell as president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects in 1980. A member of the Ohio Turf Grass Association, he was honored as Man of the Year in 1982. His accomplishments gained him induction into the Southern Ohio PGA Hall of Fame in 1977 and the Ohio Golf Association Hall of Fame in 1997.

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Jack Kidwell's professional skills, personal philosophy, playing ability, and numerous achievements spanned 60 years and quietly touched countless lives in and around golf. He designed and renovated over 100 golf courses in the state of Ohio during a prolific 40-year architectural career. He was once described as the "Johnny Appleseed of golf." His courses flow with the land, were built for the average golfer, and could be enjoyed at an affordable price. His design company, Kidwell and Hurdzan, gave rise to many successful architects, evolving into Hurdzan/Fry Golf Course Design, now designing and building courses nationally and internationally. By making golf available to multitudes of golfers, Jack Kidwell helped make golf in Ohio a big business. Hickory Hills is an example of his remarkable design philosophy.